When Zane woke up the following day, he awoke to the pleasant sight of having Jo beside him in bed. Mornings like this always took his breath away, and he always wondered what he did right to deserve this amazing creature at his bedside. He reached out to pull back the curtain of hair that covered part of her face. He wanted to see all of her. He had missed her after all.
She stirred from her sleep and found herself waking up to a pair of blue eyes staring at her.
"What are you doing here Jo?" he asked softly.
She gasped, "He speaks!"
He gave her a weak smile.
She reached over and felt his forehead. "I think it's obvious. You were sick and somebody needed to take care of you."
"And you just jumped at the chance to give me a sponge bath, huh" he said with a naughty grin
Instead of rolling her eyes, Jo decided to play along with Zane. She was in such a good mood anyway. "Of course I did, silly. I definitely didn't want anyone else to have the pleasure."
He chuckled, enjoying her unexpected response.
Jo then raised her arms over her head and stretched, letting Zane see for the first time that she was wearing his clothes, and nothing else underneath. His intake of breath and the look of desire in his eyes were just the reaction she was expecting of course.
But Zane seemed to have other things in mind. He put his hands under his head, in an attempt to stop them from grabbing Jo. He wanted to talk first. The fun stuff can wait, just a little while longer.
"Thank you Jojo."
"Wait, did I hear you right? You must still be sick." she put her hand on his forehead again.
"Very funny Lupo. You said it was obvious why you were here. Actually what's obvious to me, is that you care."
"I think I need to get Allison here. You don't have a fever anymore but you seem to be hallucinating…"
"Come off it, Jo." His voice was still gruff from sickness, but it didn't have the usual snark or bite to it. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't. Just admit it, for once. Say it out loud."
As if he couldn't help himself, he reached out and tenderly traced one side of her face. "I can see it, I can feel it…" he coaxed "but I need to hear you say it…"
"What? That I love you?" she said in a low voice, as she turned slightly and kissed his fingers.
His hand stilled and he paused for a moment. His eyes widened then crinkled as he smiled "Ok. I wasn't quite prepared for that…but not opposed to it."
"I love you Zane." Jo repeated, finally glad she was able to say it.
"Happy now?" she asked, when he didn't say anything.
"Not quite…"
"What now?" she thought.
"What I don't understand is, if you love me as much as I suspect you do, why the hell are you letting me go 6 months and a billion light years away from you!"
Jo sighed. "Because that's what you want. It's your dream. And when you love someone, you want them to be happy. So if going to Titan means that much to you, I will not stop you."
"Is that also why you haven't asked me to stay, after the pardon came through?"
"Zane, whether you stay or leave Eureka, do what you think is best for you. Just because I'm letting you go doesn't mean I love you any less."
Zane pinched himself and flinched. "What the hell are you doing Zane?" Jo asked, confused.
Zane smiled "Just wanted to make sure I'm not dreaming or hallucinating any of this."
Jo giggled at that. Zane continued to grin broadly.
"Thank you Jojo."
"Again? For what? Are you sure you're not sick anymore?"
He answered tenderly "For loving me the way you do."
Jo just beamed.
"And since my happiness seems to be your priority…"
Zane turned and opened the drawer to his bedside table and took out a familiar object. As it caught the light and glistened, Jo gasped.
Zane took her hand and placed the ring on her finger.
"This isn't a proposal…yet."
"I had a big, grand, romantic one planned for Titan, but now I have to scrap that…and someone beat me to the Sheriff's office so I definitely won't do a repeat of that…so while I'm planning it out, and believe me Josephina, I'm going to come up with a proposal that will blow your socks off…
I want you to wear this while I'm away. I want everyone to know you're mine."
Dammit! Zane has once again managed to render her speechless. Jo just looked at him, with her mouth open. She tried to speak but found herself frozen once more in surprise. "Oh God!' she thought, panicked "You're not supposed to freeze up again! Get it together Lupo!"
As if reading her thoughts, Zane chuckled "Don't worry Jo. I won't run away this time. Breathe. Take your time. I know the answer anyway," he said smugly, as he toyed and admired his grandmother's ring on her finger, just where it should be.
Jo finally found her voice "Why you…"
